Dream Hoarders

Dream Hoarders examines how America's upper middle class - the top 20% of earners - perpetuates inequality through various systemic advantages. Brookings fellow Richard Reeves presents data and analysis to challenge common assumptions about which groups benefit most from economic disparities in the United States. The book outlines specific mechanisms through which the upper middle class maintains its position, including legacy college admissions, exclusionary zoning practices, and tax benefits. Reeves traces how these advantages compound over generations, creating barriers to social mobility for the bottom 80% of Americans. Reeves uses concrete policy examples and economic data to demonstrate how the upper middle class has secured preferential treatment in education, housing, and taxation. He examines specific cases like the 529 college savings plans and documents how reform efforts have been consistently blocked by those who benefit from these advantages. The work raises fundamental questions about merit, fairness, and opportunity in American society, suggesting that addressing inequality requires confronting not just the top 1%, but the broader privileges of the educated professional class.

Readers appreciate Reeves' data-driven analysis of how upper-middle-class Americans perpetuate inequality through zoning laws, college admissions, and internship access. Many note the book's clear examples and accessible writing style. Positive reviews highlight: - Personal accountability from an upper-middle-class author - Concrete policy solutions offered - Brief length that maintains focus - Charts and statistics that support key points Common criticisms: - Too much focus on top 20% vs. examining top 1% - Solutions proposed are unrealistic - Lacks deeper analysis of racial inequality - Repetitive arguments One reader noted: "Made me uncomfortable about my own role in opportunity hoarding, which was probably the point." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (580+ ratings) Most critical reviews still recommend the book for its frank discussion of class privilege, even while disagreeing with some conclusions.

Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty Analysis of wealth concentration and inheritance patterns demonstrates how economic disparities persist across generations through capital accumulation.

The Meritocracy Trap by Daniel Markovits Examination of how elite education and professional advancement systems create a self-perpetuating upper class while excluding others from opportunity.

The Sum of Small Things by Elizabeth Currid-Halkett Investigation into how the cultural and consumption patterns of the educated elite create social barriers and maintain class distinctions.

Toxic Inequality by Thomas M. Shapiro Study of how racial wealth gaps and institutional practices combine to create compounding disadvantages for lower-income families.

The Price of Paradise by David Dayen Documentation of how zoning laws, housing policies, and local regulations create geographic segregation and concentrate opportunity in specific areas.

⭐ The book's title "Dream Hoarders" was inspired by George Carlin's famous quote about the American Dream: "It's called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it." 🎓 Author Richard V. Reeves served as director of strategy to UK's Deputy Prime Minister before joining the Brookings Institution, bringing a unique transatlantic perspective to American social mobility. 📊 The book identifies $166,000 (in 2016) as the household income threshold for the top 20% of American earners - the "dream hoarding" class it discusses. 🏘️ One key example in the book shows how zoning laws in places like Montgomery County, Maryland effectively create "opportunity hoarding" through minimum lot sizes and building restrictions. 📚 The 2017 publication sparked significant debate among policy makers and was named one of the best books of the year by The Economist magazine and received praise from both conservative and liberal reviewers.